Clean Polynuc hive

[user 6228]

how do you go about immersing a poly box ????????

lot of rocks and a big pot?
bin bag?

I used of one of the big plastic storage boxes you can get from b + q
luckily I had one already in the loft the right size.
and yes a concrete slab (not found in the loft )

 

[Into the lions den]

how do you go about immersing a poly box ????????

Push them under with a big wire basket.

Put three or so poly boxes into the hot tank (our wax melting tank doubles as a sterilising tank when not needed for wax melting), put the wire crate (base down) on top, and push it down into the liquid for 2 mins, thus fully immersing the boxes.

 

[user 6228]

Push them under with a big wire basket.

Put three or so poly boxes into the hot tank (our wax melting tank doubles as a sterilising tank when not needed for wax melting), put the wire crate (base down) on top, and push it down into the liquid for 2 mins, thus fully immersing the boxes.

i think we have a difference of scale here ... 2/3 of a box to 3 at a time !

 

[Finman]

.
You may have a low container where you put only one wall/side and then turn box. Lion has different systems..
Then brush with hot liquid.

You may do even a shallow pool. Make a proper box and put there plastic folio. Or even dig into sand a vast hole and cover it with plastic sheet.

I use this kind of chilrend's snow sledge.
http://images.search.conduit.com/Im...ctid=CT3176986&searchsource=10&start=0&pos=23

 

[Finman]

how do you go about immersing a poly box ????????

lot of rocks and a big pot?
bin bag?

You need only 2 inch deep "pool" or what ever, to where you may sink one wall or side.

http://images.search.conduit.com/Im...ctid=CT3176986&searchsource=10&start=0&pos=23

 

[Ross]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but re-reading this thread the question of how to sterilise poly hives (argued over extensively in the earlier posts of the thread) has been set out definitively in a Bee Base publication. "Hive Cleaning and Sterilisation" is quoted occasionally on the forum which gives some general advice this is now out of date and been superseded by the publication of "FAQ 32 Plastic Hives" which details exactly the approved method of sterilising poly hives.

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadDocument.cfm?id=494

I have searched the forum but can find it referenced elsewhere.

Ross

 

[Finman]

s.

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/beebase/downloadDocument.cfm?id=494

I have searched the forum but can find it referenced elsewhere.

Ross

That advices are badly over shot.
When normally frames cleaning needs 3% lye why polybox needs 17%. Good heavens.
That amount is dangerous to the beekeeper.

Then if you have a plastic box waste (read plastic) then you must ask from authority.

When you live in a household, plastic waste arouse every day (read every)
How many times in ou life you have asked from authority what to do with plastic waste?

Even radiation is recommended

.

 

[Teemore]

Just to back up the earlier comment that some bee inspectors are not entirely up to speed on certain things, earlier this year I had to provide a bee inspector with links to the FERA Guidance on sterilising poly hives. Take from that what you will. Poly hives are not that uncommon on this side of the water....
My poly nucs etc are cleaned with a solution of caustic which cleans everything up nicely. Posts from people such as RAB, Finman and ITLD pointed me towards the use of caustic and this was backed up by an Irish beekeeping friend who manages well over 60 hives. The caustic is really effective at cleaning up grotty apidea etc after they have been in more or less constant use all summer: seeing is believing in this instance.
I keep a stock of dairy hypochlorite and washing soda crystals in reserve (although the washing crystals mainly get used for washing bee suits and hive tools....)

 

[drstitson]

3 vs 17%

finman - as mentioned elsewhere in the thread we are talking WASHING soda solution NOT Caustic Soda (lye).

hot water and 20% washing soda will dissolve/soften propoplis - just needs a scrape/scrub.

 

[farbee]

finman - as mentioned elsewhere in the thread we are talking WASHING soda solution NOT Caustic Soda (lye).

hot water and 20% washing soda will dissolve/soften propoplis - just needs a scrape/scrub.

Some are talking about caustic soda (NaOH, lye) others about washing soda (sodium carbonate). We have been here before.

ITLD uses 5% caustic at 80 oC. If you are doing this please wear gloves and eye protection as it is corrosive under these conditions.

I am sure ITLD knows what he is doing as a commerial beek but other less experienced people should be warned to treat this with care.

 

[Finman]

finman - as mentioned elsewhere in the thread we are talking WASHING soda solution NOT Caustic Soda (lye).

hot water and 20% washing soda will dissolve/soften propoplis - just needs a scrape/scrub.

Yes but, what ever it is, highly alkalic kills the microbia.

THE HEAT DISDOLVES THE PROPOLIS AND WAX; NOT SODA OR LYE.

alcalic stuff forms soap, and melted wax or propolis do not attach any more on surfaces.

World is full chemicals which kill bacteria. Look at super market how much they offer toalet chemicals.

I have told before, how cleaning happens. It depends too, how much you have material to be cleaned. One box or 50.

in small cases I have used KILLITBANG is very effiecient.
http://image.www.gametracker.com/clan/585/52/f/logo_192.jpg

And when you clean boxes, you do not have all the time AFB.

You clean a box but not frames. Use you brains.
.

Advices means that if you have AFB hive, you need not destroy the boxes, You can sterilize them.

If you have EFB, change the bee stock.

.

About the law:
it was told today in radio that in our country
- over 50% car drivers drive over speed.
. 2/3 out of lorry drivers drive over speed.

.

 

[mbc]

And when you clean boxes, you do not have all the time AFB.

You clean a box but not frames. Use you brains.
.

.

 

[Hachi]

in small cases I have used KILLITBANG is very effiecient.
http://image.www.gametracker.com/clan/585/52/f/logo_192.jpg



About the law:
it was told today in radio that in our country
- over 50% car drivers drive over speed.
. 2/3 out of lorry drivers drive over speed.

.

Finman which one of the Cillit bangs is it?

 

[user 6228]

Sodium hydroxide dissolves aluminium

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Withdrawn: stale contribution.

 

[BeeJayBee]

... which one of the Cillit bangs is it?

You don't need to buy anything special - use a warm solution containing both washing soda and bleach.

The minimum strength of bleach is mentioned in the FERA (Beebase) leaflet "Cleaning Plastic Hives"

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

IIRC Na2CO3 generates weak concentrations of OH- and so is the version of lye approved for the masses who are only permitted to buy 12 Paracetamol at a time. I am persuaded that lye is the better solution (pun not intended ahead of time, but approved after the fact).